What to do if you catch norovirus – the winter vomiting bug
Norovirus, also called the winter vomiting bug, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK. It’s highly contagious, so spreads easily.
Although it’s called the ‘winter’ vomiting bug, you can get it any time of the year. However, it’s most common during the colder months.
With winter approaching and the bug becoming more widespread, it’s important to be alert to symptoms of norovirus. Here I’ll explain how to manage symptoms and how to prevent it spreading further.
How do you get norovirus?
No matter your age or how healthy you are, anyone can get norovirus. Someone who catches it will be immune for a short while afterwards, but this won’t last. So there’s a chance you might get norovirus more than once in your life.
For most people, having norovirus is unpleasant but generally mild. They’ll usually make a full recovery in 1 to 2 days. However, for vulnerable people – babies, older people and those with existing health problems – it can be more serious.
Norovirus is highly contagious, so you can catch it and pass it on to others very easily.
You can become infected by accidentally getting particles of the virus in your mouth and ingesting it. These particles are from faeces or vomit from infected people. This can happen via contaminated food and water. It’s also spread by touching unclean surfaces, such as door handles and cutlery.
What are norovirus symptoms?
Norovirus is one of the main causes of gastroenteritis. Symptoms tend to come on suddenly, with the most common being:
- nausea (this may be the only symptom in mild cases)
- projectile vomiting
- watery diarrhoea
Tummy cramps are also common and in some cases it can cause fever.
How long does norovirus last?
Although it’s unpleasant, the good news is that norovirus is short-lived and should be out of your system within 1 to 2 days. Diarrhoea may last a little longer.
If you think you’ve caught norovirus, it’s important not to visit hospitals, your GP surgery, friends, or relatives in care homes or other public spaces. This is because you could easily spread the infection to other people, and potentially to people who already have poor health.
You should contact a GP if:
- your symptoms last for more than 2 or 3 days
- your symptoms worsen
- you already have a serious illness, then phone your GP
A GP can give you advice about what to do and assess if you need further examination or treatment.
Look for signs of dehydration in children and elderly, such as becoming lethargic or irritable. Nappies may be dry or they may be urinating less.
Is there a treatment for norovirus?
There’s no specific norovirus medication. Antibiotics won’t work because it’s a viral infection, not a bacterial one. The best thing you can do is to manage the norovirus symptoms. Keep yourself hydrated by replacing the fluid you’re losing through vomiting and diarrhoea.
Children can become dehydrated more quickly, so you may wish to give your child a rehydration solution. A pharmacist can advise you on this.
What should I do if I catch norovirus?
If you catch norovirus, here are eight tips on looking after yourself and getting better.
- Don’t spread it. Norovirus is highly contagious, so you don’t want to risk passing it on to others, especially vulnerable people. Don’t visit your GP surgery, hospital, friends, or relatives in care homes.
- Stay at home. There’s no specific norovirus treatment, so for most people there will be little a GP can do. Norovirus duration is usually only a couple of days, so it’s best to stay at home and rest. This will also help to reduce the risk of spreading it to others. Don’t return to work, or send your children back to school or nursery, until 48 hours after vomiting and diarrhoea has stopped.
- Drink enough fluids. Norovirus symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhoea can make you lose fluids. You need to replace the fluids you’re losing in order to prevent dehydration. The best thing you can do is drink water regularly. Take frequent, small sips of water. You can buy rehydration solutions over the counter from your pharmacy. This is a powder that is made up into a solution by adding water. It contains the right balance of sugars and salts for your body to encourage rehydration. Ask someone to pick these up for you to help prevent spreading the virus.
- Keep babies and young children hydrated. Sports drinks and fizzy drinks aren’t suitable for children with the norovirus – stick to water or weak squash, or give a rehydration solution. If you breastfeed your child, you should continue breastfeeding as normal.
- Don’t take medicines to stop diarrhoea. It’s best not to take medicines to stop diarrhoea, such as loperamide. These only temporarily prevent symptoms. In some cases, they could make you more ill.
- Wash your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands, especially after going to the toilet, changing nappies or before preparing food. This is important to help prevent spreading the illness to others. Don’t rely on alcohol gels (hand sanitisers), as these do not kill norovirus. Always wash your hands with warm water and soap (liquid is better to use than bars of soap).
- Disinfect surfaces. Thoroughly clean hard surfaces, such as door handles, taps and kitchen surfaces, with hot water, detergents and disinfectant. Wash soiled clothes straightaway at 60 degrees or higher. This will reduce the risk of others coming into contact with the virus. Don’t prepare food for other people until you’re fully recovered – at least 48 hours after your symptoms have gone away.
- Getting medical help. If you become severely dehydrated, you may need hospital treatment with fluids given through a vein in your arm (an intravenous drip). If you think you or someone you’re caring for is severely dehydrated, call your GP surgery or NHS 111.
Wash your hands effectively in 20 seconds
- Firstly wet your hands under some warm running water, then apply a small amount of liquid soap.
- Rub your hands together vigorously, make sure that you apply soap and water to all surfaces of your hands for at least 20 seconds and up to one minute.
- Make sure that you rub your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, your fingertips, thumbs and wrists, and your nails.
- Then rinse your hands under the running water.
- Dry your hands thoroughly using disposable paper towels.
- Turn off the tap using the paper towel or your elbow, to avoid re-contaminating your hands.
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Sources Sources
- Norovirus. NHS Inform. www.nhsinform.scot, last updated May 2022
- Viral gastroenteritis. BMJ Best Practice. BMJ Best Practice. bestpractice.bmj.com, last reviewed July 2022
- Norovirus. Patient – Professional Reference. patient.info, last reviewed December 2014
- Gastroenteritis. MSD Manuals. msdmanuals.com, last reviewed September 2021
- Gastroenteritis. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised June 2022
- How are oral rehydration solutions used in the treatment of dehydration? Medscape. www.medscape.com, updated December 2018
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